I had a hangover. A dreadful hangover. The kind that resulted in my being trapped between methods of transport: unable to face getting on the tube and unable to return home on the bus.When I eventually made it to Oxford Circus to meet two friends all I wanted to do was sit, and eat.
One of them suggested La Tasca as they do an offer - all you can eat tapas for a tenner. I am not a huge fan of the La Tasca chain - I have always found service, food and sangria to be lacking in pizzazz and authenticity but on this occasion I was willing to give it another go (not the sangria).
The offer has no real catches - tapas, and as much as you want.
We went slightly mad and ordered almost everything. The bread with olive oil and sherry vinegar was soft and fresh, if a little dull. Marinated chicken wings were moreish, Spanish sausage in red wine was greasy, deep fried white fish in batter was very good, squid rings were just on the wrong side of chewy but the garlic mayonnaise was good, aubergine topped with cheese and tomato was boring, patatas bravas were fine but to be fair even in Madrid they let me down - the only good ones I have ever had were at the now closed Global in Wandsworth. Finally, the paella rice was good but the chicken was bony and limited.
We ordered again and again after that and were never rushed, the waitress served us in bemused silence as we ate our own body weight in tapas. The atmosphere on a Sunday afternoon was actually not bad - the gentle hum of couples and groups of friends soaking up the previous night's excess.
All you can eat tapas and a soft drink: £12.50 per head
Value: 9/10
Service: 7/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Food: 6/10
SCORE: 29/40
La Tasca, 300 Regent Street, London, W1B 3AR. Tel: 020 76372886.
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